Greg had no trouble believing Becca’s story. It just shocked him that something like that had happened to Becca of all people. He knew about her deep seated faith. He also knew how guarded Becca could be and he was glad she had decided to tell him her story. There was nothing he could say except to give her what she needed. He assured Becca that her secret was safe with her. No one would know from him where she was.
Becca was relieved. Now that her nerves were gone, she was able to relax around Greg.
“So, why did you settle in Bend, Greg? I mean, this is not exactly a bustling place like Denver or Dallas. This is more of a sleepy town. Far from your usual tastes, I imagine.”
Greg laughed wryly. “It is that, I’ll grant you. But I wanted a place where I can get away from all the “bustle” as you put it. So I looked online for some vacation homes and this place, and a cabin more up in the mountains, caught my eye.” He rubbed the rough stubble on his jaw as he continued to speak and drummed his fingers quietly on the table as he looked out the window. “I came to visit it a couple years ago and loved it enough to buy it on the spot. When I need a refresher, this is my home away from home. I like the seclusion when I am here. I got internet and cable so I am good to go in my cabin.”
Greg turned back to Becca with a grin. “You know, if your free tomorrow night, I’d love to have you over to my place for dinner. Maybe we can watch a movie and catch up on old times.”
“I think I would like that, Greg. But I am not free this weekend. How about next Saturday?” Becca responded as she sipped her coffee and rested her chin on her palm. She grinned as she teased, “If you cook, I will bring dessert.”
Greg picked up on the old joke even as he agreed to the change of plans. “Actually, Ms. Doubt-heart, I have learned a thing or two about cooking in recent years.”
“Oh really,” Becca said with a laugh, “you learned to make toast without burning it? Ooh, can you boil water now? I still remember your attempt to make spaghetti with uncooked noodles – you turned on the wrong burner and could not figure out why the noodles weren’t getting softer!”
“In my defense, the burner light was not working so even though it was on, you couldn’t see that it was on.”
“That’s why you check the temperature with your hand, Genius!”
Greg had no comeback. “Yeah, well. Why don’t you come over next week around six so I can impress you with my culinary prowess?”
Seeing Greg’s embarrassment, Becca took pity on him and agreed gamely. She got the directions from him and reminded him that she would provide dessert.
As they parted ways, each getting into their own cars, neither could help smiling as they thought about the evening.
Becca’s mind pricked her, reminding her to guard her heart but she brushed it off. I am just going to hang out with an old friend. Nothing more.
Greg was proud of himself, he had scored a second “date” with the beautiful Becca, though she didn’t know it. I can’t believe the Ugly Duckling is now a Swan; man she is hot! He reminded himself that Becca was not like other girls though. He knew her values. He didn’t agree with them but he could respect them. Crap, I better keep this in the friend zone. No way will she come to me without a ring on her finger and a ceremony! And I’m not going there anytime soon.
***
Becca had a busy week. She was booked with three clients all needing at least two rooms done within two weeks. I seriously need to hire some assistants and maybe some handy men. This is getting to be too much for one person. So on Tuesday she told Esther she was on the look out to hire an assistant decorator and a handyman; there was no better advertising than free advertising and Esther was the heart and soul of the local gossip mill.
By Wednesday she had hired three assistants on commission, twin sisters Jenny and Jeannine - who had a great eye for color and coordination - and their cousin, Joshua, who was great when it came to working with his hands to make something out of nothing. She gave them an outline of her vision and tasked them to put schematics together so she could approve it before they did any actual work on the house.
Thursday and Friday passed in a blur of projects and before she knew it, it was Saturday. Becca loved to cook and she knew from the past that Greg loved his ice cream. She knew that he still did because she had spied four tubs of it in his cart last week. So for her dessert, Becca decided to make cheese cake with homemade ice-cream.
When she arrived at Greg’s luxury cabin that evening, she found the door unlocked and let herself in. Becca followed her nose to the kitchen where mouth-watering scents were flowing. When she realized Greg was wholly absorbed in his cooking, she softly drew level with him and picked up a small cut of meat from the prime rib he was slicing. When Greg saw her hand appear like a phantom, he nearly dropped his knife.
“Dang it Becks! You nearly gave me a heart attack!”
Becca laughed as she licked the juice of the meat off her thumb. “Sorry, I couldn’t resist. This is good. I’m impressed you managed to actually cook.”
Greg’s entire attention was focused on Becca’s thumb and he nearly missed what she said. When he realized that Becca was waiting for a reply he shook his head and mumbled an apology. “Sorry. Uh. Yeah. Thanks. I hired a private chef last year to teach me some skills in the kitchen and he was a pretty good teacher.”
Becca held out the covered desert like a peace offering. “Can I put this in your freezer?”
“Sure, go ahead, what is it?”
“I know how much you like ice-cream and I love me some cheesecake so I made an ice-cream cheese cake with caramel drizzle. I hope you’ll like it.”
“Well it sure sounds good. Listen, this prime rib is almost done. Why don’t you choose a movie? I have Netflix on. Please no chick-flicks, okay?”
“No worries. How about some action?”
He agreed and they chose to watch the new James Bond movie. As they settled in on the couch to watch over a huge plate of juicy prime rib, vegetable stir-fry, mashed potatoes and glasses of red wine, Greg commented that Becca was actually the first person to see his cabin aside from the real estate agent and decorator.
“It’s beautiful, Greg. I love the way you chose to decorate it. The next time you want to decorate though, call me, okay? I’ll take it personally if you don’t. ” She smiled to let him know she was just joking.
“You got it, Becks.”
A comfortable silence settled between them as they ate and watched the movie. Both jumped when they heard a phone go off. Greg apologized and got up to grab his phone and cut the shrill ring.
“Excuse me Becks, this is my agent. I’ll be back.”
Greg crossed the room to the lean against the back porch rail but left the sliding door open.
“Hey, Annie. What’s going on?”
“Greg. Thank goodness. Are you ok?”
“What? Yeah, I am. Why?”
“You’re family has been calling me. They’re frantic. They said they don’t know where you are or if you’re okay.”
Greg blew out a breath in frustration. “I’m fine Annie. Would you mind running interference with them? They have become like blood-sucking leeches and are literally bleeding me dry. They’re not really concerned about me. They are more worried about the fact that they can’t reach me to get their hands on my cash. I just need a break from them until training starts.”
Annie clucked sympathetically. “Don’t worry about it, Greg. I’ve been through this mill several times with my other players. I’ll keep them away from you. You relax.”
“Thanks Annie. You’re awesome!”
They exchanged some more pleasantries before hanging up. When Greg went back to the living area, he didn’t see Becca. He called for her and she responded from the kitchen. When he entered, he saw her serving slices of the cake she had made on a couple of plates.
“I’m sorry to hear about your family. I didn’t mean to eavesdrop; I came in here to give you some more privacy.”
“
Don’t worry about it Becks. I guess it’s a part of the life I chose. I mean I don’t mind giving them money when they need it but it’s gotten to the point that they won’t do anything on their own anymore. My relatives quit their jobs, and together with my parents, bought a posh place and expect me to foot the bill for everything from groceries to mortgage to their parking tickets. It’s ridiculous!” He paused and took a deep breath. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to dump on you. I guess I’m more wound up than I thought.”
“Hey that’s okay. I understand. Here, have some ice-cream cheese cake, it might help you relax.”
They settled in to watch the rest of the movie but Greg’s mind was elsewhere. His family didn’t really care about him, only his money. They hadn’t attended any of his games until he had become a pro. He had done his best to support them and help them out, giving out more loans than he could remember – which were never paid back. He knew that once his pro career was done, they would desert him again. He didn’t mind that, the problem was that he was giving them so much money, he didn’t have enough to see him through post-football. He was already a five year player – that made him almost ancient in the NFL. He had a year, maybe two, max.
He knew time was running out and his drug and alcohol habit were making everything worse. The girls, the booze, the drugs, heck the lifestyle, it was all draining him. More and more he was certain he needed to get out – he just didn’t know how. He knew he was addicted to the drugs. He had been in and out of rehab with no luck for three years now. They said the first step to recovery was acknowledging the problem. He had long since acknowledged it. How the heck was he to get rid of it?
He was brought out of his reverie by a gentle touch on his knee. Startled he looked down at Becca’s hand and then up into her eyes.
She said very simply, “What can I do for you, Greg?”
He stared at her in stunned amazement. No one ever wanted to do anything for him. Everyone wanted something from him. Suddenly, here was Becca. The girl he had scorned in the past. He was ashamed to admit just how much he ridiculed her. He knew she had heard him call her a love sick puppy and he knew he had hurt her deeply by his callousness and selfishness; he had seen her in his peripheral standing behind them that day so many years ago. He had seen her shock when Henry admitted he wanted only one thing from her and he had witnessed the dismay, no, the anguish, when he dismissed her feelings for him like so much trash.
But here she was, silently forgiving him for the hurt and offering comfort. He was shocked to feel moisture on his cheeks. He reached up to wipe his face and realized he was crying. I never cry. Why am I crying? Before he could make an excuse and bolt, he felt arms surrounding him. Becca kneeled on the couch and pulled him to her shoulder and rubbed his back. She didn’t say anything, she didn’t make any noise. Somehow, though, it was exactly what he needed.
He crushed her in his arms, buried his face in her neck and wept. He didn’t know what he was weeping for. Maybe the genuine love of a family he ached to have. Maybe the misery he felt in the void that he desperately tried to fill with women and drugs and alcohol and more money. Maybe it was just a real relationship with someone who wanted nothing from him but himself. They stayed like that for a long time.
After a while, Greg pulled away from Becca. He knew he owed her an explanation. Truth to tell, he needed to talk to someone. Slowly he told her about his life in the NFL. He explained that through high school and college no one from his family had supported him but that when he was signed to the Broncos, they began to appear out of the woodworks. As the pressure from his family increased and as they drained him more and more, he turned to “the lifestyle” to find fulfillment. He joined his team mates at the after parties. At first he only drank and danced. But soon after he found himself trying drugs. First it was just pot. A joint here or there, nothing serious. Then he found his own dealer. Then he tried cocaine. Again it was just a line at one party or a hit at a friend’s place. But after a while he was carrying his own piece and using in the rest rooms.
His agent found out and got him into private rehab so that it did not interfere with his playing. As long as “the brass” could justify that he was getting treatment, they wouldn’t put him out to pasture. He was their star QB, after all, so they turned a blind eye and no one was the wiser. Greg even told Becca about waking up with the girls two weeks ago and how he had felt so lost and alone and that was what drove him to Bend this time.
Through it all, Becca offered him comfort without judgment. He expected to see disgust in her eyes, but there was nothing but quiet acceptance. Then she did something completely unexpected; she began sharing her faith with him. He wanted to recoil. Tell her she was off base and that he didn’t want to hear it. But there was something about the quiet assurance in her voice, the peace in her eyes that made him pause. And then made him listen. It was unlike anything he had ever heard. She told him that God didn’t condemn him. She made no bones about the fact that he was living sinfully and that was unacceptable to God but that while God would not accept the sin, God would accept him.
Somehow that penetrated his heart and kept revolving in his mind. Long after they stopped talking, long after she had fallen asleep on his couch, he was lying in bed thinking about it.
***
When Greg woke up the next morning, Becca was gone. She left a note saying that she was going to church. She also left her phone number just in case he wanted to talk. He saved her number and smiled. Sometime in the night he had made a decision and he was eager to see it through. He realized that he loved Becca. Always had, even in high school. He had tried to reject her and her love and had pushed her away because he didn’t want to deal with it.
He realized now though that if he wanted to get Becca then he would need to turn his life around. The first step for that was to go to Texas and confront his family. Greg booked the ticket online and confirmed it for the same day. Then he sent a message to Becca that he was going to go to Texas to see his family but he would be back the next week and he would like to see her then.
Greg landed in Dallas a few hours later and rented a car and made his way to his bank. He realized that his family would never accept what he was about to do so he needed to make a living will and set it in motion first so that they could not contest him in anyway.
He talked to his attorney and had a will drawn up. In it he settled a half million dollars each on his parents, aunt and uncle and their son and daughter. They were free to use the money however they wished. However, once the money was finished, it was finished. There would be no more for them. He had letters made out to each person informing them of his decision. He made it clear that he would support them emotionally and he wanted to be a part of their lives if they would allow him to be, but he would no longer be their personal bank. Each person would be notified of the contents of the will and letters the same week.
After Greg left his lawyer, he stopped at an upscale bistro for lunch. There he ran into his old school buddy Devin and was invited out for drinks and a party at a new club which Devin was opening that night. He agreed to go, thinking he would make an appearance and then would leave. He had no desire to mix in with the party scene anymore.
The party was already in full swing once he arrived. Greg accepted a bottle of beer from one of the circulating trays and headed to the VIP lounge to meet Devin. There he ran into several others from high school and some he had known in college who had all become successful in their chosen fields.
“Well if it isn’t my man Greg.” A familiar voice said as a hand thumped his back. “Where have you been bro? It’s been a while since we hung out and lived it up.”
“Henry,” Greg said icily, “it has been a long time.”
Greg fought to keep his sudden temper in check. Just seeing the man brought Becca and her tale to mind. What I wouldn’t give to pummel the jerk right here. But I won’t do anything to even hint at Becca. For the rest of the night he tried to avoid Henry but the man kept popping
up out of nowhere.
As the night wore on and Greg accepted one drink after another, he forgot about his resolve to not get involved in the party scene. When someone bought the cocaine out, he cheered with the others and took a hit or three right alongside them. The combination of drugs and alcohol weakened him and loosened up his tongue. Soon he was telling the guys about the Ugly Duckling in Bend, Oregon, who had become a swan and crowing about his luck in finding her and how he was falling for her as she had once fallen for him.
Greg had quite forgotten all about Henry but the man was listening to Greg’s story with a thundering rage inside of him. She thinks she can humiliate me with the golden boy? Over. My. Dead. Body. Greg had carelessly tossed his phone onto the table in front of him and didn’t notice anything when Henry picked it up. Henry scrolled through it and found Becca’s information, including her address, and texted it to his phone. He was shaking in rage when he read the last text Becca sent to Greg: “I am here if you need me. I am glad we got to spend some time together last night.” She’s going to pay for this. Who does she think she is to two-time me? No one crosses Henry Miller.
Henry tossed the phone back on the table and left. He was on the next flight out to Oregon the next morning and standing in front of Becca’s house within a matter of hours. This time he didn’t bother with subterfuge. He knocked on the door.
Becca opened the door with a smile to greet Esther. Sometimes the old dear would come over in the morning to talk when she didn’t have much to do and Becca always accommodated her. Her smile turned to fear when she realized that it was Henry standing on her threshold, not Esther.
[2015] A Love Miracle Page 5
